Film reel for motion-picture projectors



Dec- 1, R' YEATS FILM REEL FOR MOTION-PICTURE PRoJECToRs 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5l, 1950 INVENTOR. ROBERT S.

YEA rs AGENT Dec. 1, 1953 R. s; YEATs 2,661,210

FILM REEL. FOR` MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed July 5l, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT S. YEATS Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES FILM REEL FOR MOTION -PICTURE PROJECTORS Robert S. Yeats, San Diego, Calif. Application July 31, 1950, Serial No. 176,886

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-1217) My invention relates to film reels for motion picture projectors, more particularly for use in facilitating the handling of lm and eliminating the necessity for rewinding the rolls of ilm, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a reel of this class having 'novel adjustable fingers, which support a roll of film at its periphery during the unwinding of the roll from the center thereof;

Second, to provide a reel of this class which is very readily and easily adjusted to accommodate rolls of iilm of varying diameter;

Third, to provide a reel of this class which may be positioned in the conventional lm reel can;

Fourth, to provide a reel having novel film roll ejector means thereon, for use in transferring iilm from the hub of one reel to a position intermediate the ngers of another reel, so that it may be supported externally during the unwinding of the ilm from the middle thereof; Fifth, to provide a film reel arrangement for motion picture projectors, wherein both reels are provided with means for synchronizing the rotative operation thereof, wherein a clutch is readily engageable or disengageable, providing optional use of conventional lm reels or my improved lm reels, which eliminate the rewinding of film;

Sixth, to provide an` improved lm holdingreel in which a plurality of pins project through a pair of plates, one provided with radial slots and the other provided with spiral slots, whereby movement of one of said plates relative to the other causes radial adjustment of said pins for accommodating a roll of iilm which may vary in diameter a considerable amount;

Seventh, to provide reels for motion picture projectors which operate in place of conventional lm reels, permitting the operator of the projector to very readily and easily use either the conventional reels, or my improved reels, at his option; and

Eighth, to provide film reels for motion picture projectors which are very simple and economical of construction, eilicient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional motion picture projector, showing my i-llm reels in connection therewith; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingsfFig. 3 is a side elevational view of the lm guide used in cooperative relation with my film reels; Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing the clutch means; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an inside view of one of my film reels, showing portions broken away to amplify the illustration; Fig. `8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 99 of Fig. 7,; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a dilTerent reel from that shown in Fig. 7'; Fig. 1l is an enlarged fragmentary. sectional view, taken from the line II-II of Fig. l0; and Fig. 12 is a sectional view, taken from the line I2-I2 of Fig. 5. Y

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings. Y

The reel can I, plates 2 and 3, pins 4, 5, 6, 'I, 8 and 9, hub Ill, reel plates II and I2, retractable hub I3, spring I Il, sprockets I5 and I6, chain l1, clutch members I 8 and I9, spring 20, bearing member 2|, screw 2.2, film guide 23, arm 24, and the spring 25, constitute the principal parts and portions of my lm reels for motion picture projectors.

The reel can I is a substantially conventional lm reel can, and fixed therein is the plate 2 of substantially the same diameter as the inside of the reel can I. The plate 2 is provided with spiral slots 2a, through which the pinsl 4, 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 project. It will be noted that these pins, as shown in Fig. 8, are provided with heads 6a andla, substantially greater in di ameter than the width of the slots 2a, for retaining the same therein. The plate 3 is nrovided with straight radial slots 3a, through which said pins 4, 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 project, and this plate 3 is mounted in the reel can I and capable of limited rrotation relative thereto for the purpose of moving the pins 4, 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 in the spiral slots 2a, radially inwardly and outwardly as desired. vThe plate 3 has lugs 3c integral therewith which are bent over at right angles with the plate 3 and ntting closely against the inside of the peripheral wall of the reel can. These lugs 3c provide handle means to facilitate rotation of the plate 3 relative to the plate 2. The plate 3 is provided with a central opening 3b surrounding the hub I0, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, which is nxed to the enclosed side of the reel can I. This hub I is provided with a shoulder .portion lagrrwhich retains the plate 3, `preventingthe same from being displaced longitudinally of the axis of the hub I9 from the reel can I.

The reel plates II and I2, shown.in-Fgs... and 11 of the drawings, constitute'the 'other reel of my reels for motion picture projectors. The plate i2 is provided with cuteotcportions forming an open spoke structure,..substantially conventional in appearance, and -mov'ably mounted in the central portion of thisiplatev t2 is the retractable hubI3, acted upon by the springv I 4, which tenda-tahold `thesame inwardly in the solid line position, as..shown in,Fig...1l of .the` drawings. .Theahubtv I 3 :.is provided with slots I3a the I.annular walhthereof, through which the-l nngers yI2a ofdthe :plate I2 .extend. Aspring It; ismounted. coaxlllly` of and rcoinspletely .within Ythelhub43 .and -this spring is compressedlbetweenan `ed.lf.the' hub .andthe innenendsof the .'nngers [2.-the.spring .thus tending. to. hold; thenange. I4a..a'djacent to the sideof .the plate I2. .Thus,.thehubyportion I3b .is supported Aas an .axial spool-upon.which nlrn may be wound.

The plate I I. is. provdedwitha.nxedhub. I la, .having an.opening the square.`hub..of .the .conventional-.motion pieture. ree1.spindles. Aikewisegthelhilc I3..on-.'the

.plate I2 is.provided .with.a.siniilar.openng, 13o.

The. hub I D, hereinbfore'described and, shown .-Figs. '7..and's8 (inthe .drawings,..is,provided .\vith an .opening Ib,..engageable.wththe rectangular. in cross-section spindle .f .a conven- `tionalmotion pictureprojector. jThehole Lnb 'aligns with holes [Ia .ardg 2blin the .c1osed-side .of the reel canl I andlnfthemiddleonthe plate.'2. A

Secured on the conventional rotating. spindles of the motion.picturerprojector are. theV ,sprockets I5 .and I6. These sprocketsll5..and'I'6 are.en gaged by the chainIT and cooperater therewith for synchronouslyrotating Y the reel rcan I and the, plates. I I .and 1 I 2,A whiolr'forml'theu lowefnlmreceiving or .takefup .'reelcon.the projector, .as shown. inFigsj 1 and'zofftheildrawings. .'.On the spindle shaft- A; which'fisthej lower reel-support- ,ing spindle shaft of .the motion ,pictureprojector,

as shown .iniEig.`5.of the;drawing,s,..is the .com ventional rewindpulley'B, and the'bearing mem- .ber.2,l, which.is.secured by..means .of a screw ..2Ia, to said shaftA. `.This .bearing 2 Iiisa hollow cylindrical bearing, on the outer: side onwhich .is nxed theclutch member" I8.

This clutch .member -I.8 is `provided with a. 4.plurality of extendingfngers llqf, engageable with. similar. nngers Isa of the--clutch .member I9, which. is nX-ed. tothe. sprocket' I6, freely. rotatably mounted on the .outer side of .the bearing 2I .and normallyfheldnin abuttedrelationship with the head ofthe screw..22.by..means of the spring 20, wherein'the-clutch members I8 and -I9 are disengaged. Itwillgbenoted'thatthe clutch membersr I Il. and.' I.9. aslshownimEig. 1.1?. are in the engaged ;position,.wherein they are interlocked, due to ',the" hook-shaped structure of the vnnger'portions I8ai and. 19a' of saidzclutch vmembers I8'an'dil9.

f Ilb therein, adapted .Lto -nt c 4 The nlm guide 23 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the arm 24, which is secured in stationary position on the conventional projector, shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The spring 5 25 tends to retract the nlm guide 23 toward the upper end of the arm 24, and the film guide 23, when in operating position, normally engages the circular in cross-section stub end C of the uppenspindlefshaft of .the, projector, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, which maintains the same in proper position for guiding the nlm D .eas it enters the projector from the interior of the roll. of.nlm.E in the reel can -I, all as shown best'.lin*Fig.'I l' of the drawings.

The nlm guide 23 is provided with an extend- ;ing: angular :.portion 23a, which guides the nlm intermediate the reel can I and the entrance of 'the i nlm into the "projecton .Thei'operation of my nlm reels for motion picture projectors is substantially as follows:

lWhen the. hub I 0 .of .thereelcan I. issu-pported .onlthe .spnd1e'.C fl the motionpicturaproj ector .asJshown ,Eig. l of the .-drawings, the.. roll rf 'fnlmE isengagedfat, itsperiphery by the pins 254,"5,"6, l, 8 and`9, andthe-.nlm D is extended from. .the .interior f the rollyElthrou'gh the. vprojector and onto'. thehub I 3 .of the reelformed by the plates II Eand i12 Lon the.lower.spindle "F of 'the projecton.asishownlinlFigll ofthe drawings. The sprockets I5.-ard I6, together with the synchronizing. chain I'lrandthe clutches I8 and I 9,1.in engaged-:relation with eachother, provide. asynchronizing means which drives the .upper reelat the. same rotating speed .asthe lower reel, whereby the'lm is wound on the lower reel atthe samedameteras it isbeing unwound from lthe upper. reel.

lWhen.the reel.,is-entirely woundtonthe hub l3.betweentheplates; I I and, I2, .thejnlm guide 40 23V may Vbe moved' o.ut. .of positionV by .shifting it past the endof theI spindle 'C` of the projector, and ,the.' nlm..on' the' hiib.' I3 maybe transferred .to a,.po's1tioninterme'diatel thepins .4, .5,1, .8 and.' 9. by .engaging-.the center. of.the.hub. I3 with the. hub I Il .and forcing' theplate I2 inwardly, which..`slips.the rlhfjnlm off thelhub.I3 and into fthe re'eLcan- I, adjacent .the plate 3,. in- .termediate .'i'.he..pir1s .4,"5,.'6, 1,* 8 and` 9. As the 'nlm passesfrom its roll in the reel can .through the` proj ector, it. slides around.. the.. nlm guide. 2 3, :which..causesv .an `arignlairltransition. therein. and which provides for. considerable.flexibility in ithe Aunwinding f thelnlmlfrom the roll TE. v"Thus, nlm breakage' is,.-reduceld; to. aminimum.

It. will. be..noted`.that ',the. conventional. slippage .belts .of the conventional .motion .picture pro- 'jector are employed,.whichpperate .the spindle F.ca.using. the same .-to.;synchronously. idrivethe ,-,spindle..C-du`ring.the entire transfer'f the roll of lnlmcto the'. hub I3b,' intermediate the plates .IL and I2. It willbenotedf'thatwhen the. plates j I I and.' I.2 are onlthe spindleF., as shown in' Fig. '1, the hubs I3 an'd'l Iaabut each other.

.-.In order to .provde.initialadjustment -of -the 65 pins4'5,.6,118, .and.19in.certain spaced relationship` to eachv.other, L'the,.plate..3 may. be. rotated. withintha reel. can.. I to. retractr orfextend these pins radially in the slots 3a, asdesired. -In order ...to engage-theclutcnmembers :iB-.and AI 9. for..synchronous...operationcof the ..uppei and lower.- reels of theyproectorfas.shown .in .Eig .l -.of..the drawngs,rthe. clutch-member I9 together .with `.the sprocket I 6,.;may be lpressed inwardly against compression.ofthespringl29,.causing-.the l75.1ingers I8a.and I3a ,to .interlock and-.engage While the clutch members l 8 and I9 are engaged, the motion picture projector may be operated as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, employing my improved reels. If it is desired to use the mtion picture projector with conventional film reels, the clutch members |8a and 19a may be disengaged, and the motion picture projector may be operated in the conventional way, and may be used to rewind film as desired.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A motion picture projection supply reel can having an open side and a substantially at side, means for peripherally engaging a roll of film comprising a pair of plates within said can and parallel to said flat side, the first of said plates having radial slots therein, the second of said plates having spiral slots of similar width, one of said plates being secured to said flat side, the other plate being rotatably mounted on said at side, pins in said slots projecting therethrough and engageable with the periphery of a roll of ilm, said pins having heads larger than the transverse dimension of said slots and said heads being slidably held between said at side and the plate proximate to said ilat side.

2. A motion picture projection supply reel can having an open side and a substantially ilat side, means for peripherally engaging a roll of nlm comprising a pair of plates within said can and parallel to said fiat side, the first of said plates having radial slots therein, the second of said plates having spiral slots of similar width, one of said plates being secured to said :dat side, the other plate being rotatably mounted on said dat side, pins in said slots projecting therethrough and engageable with the periphery of a roll of lm, said pins having heads larger than the transverse dimension of said slots, said head being slidably held between said i'lat side and the plate proximate to said flat side, a fixed hub in said reel, a single-sided take-up reel having a spring loaded axially retractable hub whereby a roll of film may be transferred to said supply reel can by axially applying said single-sided reel onto said supply reel can so that said xed hub forcefully displaces said retractable hub simultaneously with the projection of the roll of film into said supply reel can intermediate said pins and thus making the lm available for projection without rewinding the lm.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plate proximate to said at side is rigidly secured to said at side, said fixed hub having a shoulder therein, and the plate remote from said at side is rotatively mounted on said fixed hub and retained thereon by said shoulder.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 and including a combination film guide and supply film roll retainer extending in one position thereof across a major portion of the open side of said supply reel can so as to contact only edge portions of a lm and thus preventing serious wear or damage to the film.

ROBERT S. YEATS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

